Door-operating mechanism for dump-cars.



J. PEARSON.

DooR OPERATING MECHANISM Fo-R DUMP CARS.

i APPLICATION FILED 0CT.25fl9l3 Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET l.

I. PEARSON.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISNI FOR DUMP CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 25| 1913.

Patented Mayl, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a1. PEARsoN.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DUMP CARS.

APPLlCAlON FILED OCT. 25| 191.3.

1,183,030; Patentd May16,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Vao

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

JOHN PEARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DUMP-CARS.

Application 1ed. October 25, 1913.

To cZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN PEARsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Mechanism for Dump-Cars, of which the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices relating to car constructions, and particularly to an improved dump car construction and mechanism for controlling the dump doors for railway cars or the like.

The invention has among its objects the production of a construction of the kind described that is simple, convenient, efficient, safe and satisfactory, and that may be employed wherever found desirable.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a dump car embodying my improvements, taken substantially on line l, 1 of Fig. 4; Fig. 2 is asimilar enlarged sectional view of the same, showing the left hand side of the structure shown in Fig. l; Fig..3 is a similar view of the right hand side of. Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the car, showing the locking mechanism, in position substantially as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing the locking mechanism in operation, substantially V as illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking member 35; Fig. 7 is substantially a sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 4; Fig. S is a perspective view of one of the fittings; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking member, and Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the winding shaft, arm and links shown in Fig. 1, looking substantially from the line 10, 10.

Referring to the drawings, in which the preferred form of my device is shown, the same is illustrated as applied to a car of steel construction, having a frameconsisting of the center beam 1, cross beams 2, 2 suitably secured to the center beam, and side beams 6. The car is shown with a centrally disposed plate 3 forming a portion of the car body floor, the doors 4, 4 hinged from the center beam, also forming a portion of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial No. 797,207.

the floor when closed. The doors 4 may be I of any suitable construction and secured to the car body inany desired manner. In the car frame shown, al Z-shaped beam 6, having flanges 7, 8, is arranged along each side of the car, and the side walls 5 preferably turned in as at 9 on eachside to provide spaces for the door operating mechanism and locking devicesv which are arranged on and carried by the beam 6. The car body or frame may, of course, be provided with any desired bracing stakes, or the like, on the inside oroutside, or ends.`

In the construction shown, the dump doors are arranged to drop at their outer edges, as illustrated in Fig. 1, so as to permit the discharge of the contents of the car, it being possible to drop the doors on both sides of the center beam simultaneously, or separately.. Each door, there being a plurality on each side, is provided with one or more chains or flexible members 11, two for each door being shown, arranged to coperate with the free edge of the door in substantially a similar manner to the construction shown in my Patent No. 945,108. The advantage in having a plurality of flexible members or chains is to prevent warping or twisting of the door in closing or opening. Each chain is suitably secured to the hook member 15, as shown by a link 14. The hook members extend through suitable openings in the Z-bar 6, and are each carried by an attachment or fitting similar to that shown in Fig.' 8. Referring to this figure, 1S is a plate, 4which is-preferably formed with an opening 19,A and with brackets 17, which are preferably connected by the part -17, so as to form ahood or cover. The

hooks are eachsecured by a pin 16, or its equivalent, (see Fig. 3) to the brackets 17, and extended through the beam 6. The plate 18 is also provided with brackets 23, and with the part 20, 21 formed with a face 22k (see Fig. 2) for the locking mechanism, as will be hereafter described.

Suitably carried by the car are the winding shafts 26. These shafts are each preferably carried by brackets 25 secured to the beams 2, and operated or controlled in any suitable manner, as for example as shown in my Patent No. 986,309 or No. 977,676. The bearing` collars (see Figs. 1 and 4) arranged on the shaft, support the shafts in the brackets 25 and permit their easy rotation. Arranged on this shaft is a part 28,

provided with one or more arms, as shown two arms 27 (see Fig. 10). The part 28 is prevented from sliding on the'winding shaft 26 by a locking member 35, shown in Fig. 6, and the shaft 26 being square in cross sec tion, or substantially similarly formed, the part 28 is prevented from rotating about the shaft. The locking member 35, which prevents the fittings 28 from sliding along the shaft, is provided with openings 38 in one ofthe flanges, so that the part 28 may be positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 1, and it is also provided with openings 39 where the same passes through the brackets 25. In securing the fittings 28 on the shaft, the locking member may be positioned with the fittings 28 and bearing collars 40 arranged thereon at the openings in the flange, and the shaft 26 then inserted from one end of the car.

Since the sides of the openings at 39 (see Fig. 6) in the flange of member 35, engage with the collar 40 (see Fig. 4) the member 35 is prevented from rsliding endwise on the shaft, and cannot be removed without first removing the shaft. Since the fittings 28 engage in the sides of the openings 38 (see Fig. 4) the fittings 28 are prevented from moving on the shaft 26. The locking member 35 being locked in position by the shaft, as described, the fittings canr only be removed by removing the shaft, after which they may be easily slipped off from the locking member.

Suitably connected or secured to the arms 27 of the part 28, is a link 29, which is preferably forked as at 30, and pivotally secured by pins 31, or the equivalent, as

shown. Another link 33 is suitably' connected to the free end of the link 29; as shown, it is pivotally secured thereto by a pin 32, and the free end of this link is secured to the chain 11 by a pin 34, or in an equivalent manner. These two links, 33 and 29, are preferably ,formed or bent substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 10, so that when the shaft 26 is rotated, they will be wrapped about the shaft, or unwrapped, as the case may be, depending in which direction the shaft is turned. Vhen they are rotated Aabout the shaft so that the chain is taut, the parts are substantially in the positions shown at the left hand side of Fig. 1, with the shaft between the two links. It will be noted that as the shaft is rotated, the shaft is a fulcrum., irst for the link 29, and as it is further rotated, a fulcrum for the link 33, and that when the chain is taut, and the hook 15 maintained in engaged position with the free edge of the door, the chain lies substantially in a straight line, which, if extended, would pass through the axis of the shaft, so that there is practically no leverage on the shaft. In the construction shown, the axes pivotal .connections at 31, 32 and 34 are also substantially in'or cut by this straight line. Straining of the Achain tends to cause the links to more firmly grip the shaft, and there is practically no tendency for the shaft to be rotated in a direction to unwrap the links. The parts may be connected together in any equivalent manner, so as to give the same effect, the arrangement shown, however, being simple, consisting of but few parts.

For each hook member 15, I provide a locking member, consisting of the part 41, which is preferably formed on the end as at 42, and on one side as at 43, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Each of these members isy provided with a part'45 arranged to be secured to the brackets 23, secured to the plate 18, shown in Fig. 8. The locking members are substantially bellcranks, each of which is pivotally supported at the juncture of the two arms, and arranged to have one arm coperate with the hook and car to lock the hooks, and `the other to be attached to a bar arranged to operate all the locks. The two parts 44, when constructed as shown, embrace and are secured to a controlling rod 46 at 47, the rod being of suflicient length to take care of any desired number of locking members. The rod 46 is secured by a link 481:0 a bell-crank lever 49, formed with a handle part 50, the same being secured at 51 to a bracket 52 on the beam 6. The locking mechanism would operate in the same manner if placed below the beam 6, and I wish to be understood as not limiting its use above the beam.

Referring toFig. 1, and `assuming that the dump door 4 is as shown at the left hand of Fig. 1, the lever 50 is thrown to the position shown in Fig. 4, movingthe locking members outJ of engagement with the hooks 15. It will be noted that when the members 41 are in the position shown in Fig. 2,`

the two faces bearagainst vthe part 22 and against the hook, and when the member 41 is withdrawn, the hook may swing into a` position substantially vas shown in Fig. 3.`

If the shaft 26 is then turned in the direction indicated by the arrow, the chain 11` will be slacked, the weight of the door 4 will cause it to move the hooks out of the way and drop substantially into the position shown at the right hand side, discharging the contents of the car. The shaft 26 may then be turned so as to wind the links 29 and 33 about it, drawing the chain andv raising the door 4 so that it is engaged and supported by the hooks 15, which are maintained in position by the chains. The lever 30 is then thrown substantially as indicated in Fig. 5, forcing the members 41 between the walls 22 and the hooks, and locking them in position, so that the hooks will be maintained in such "position, even though the chains 11 break, or the shaft Winding mechanism becomes accidentally released.

I have particularly referred to a car in which the doors are hinged longitudinally the car, but it Will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the doors may be hinged on an axis transverse the car, and various other changes made in the car construction, depending upon the intended use of the car, by Whom used, as Well as particular structural features of different car manufactures.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

vWhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a door pivotally supported at one side thereof, means for raising and supporting the free edge of the door, comprising a hook pivotally supported adjacent said free edge of the door, a Winding shaft, an arm secured thereto, a link pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, a second link pivotally secured to said first mentioned link at the free end thereof, and a iieXible member connected to said hook and the free end of said second link.

2. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a door pivotally supported at one side thereof, means for raising and supporting the free edge of the door, comprising a hook pivotally supported adjacent said free edge, a Winding shaft, an arm secured thereto, a link pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, a second link pivotally secured tosaid first mentioned link at the free end thereof, a chain connected to said hook and the free end of said second link, and arranged to coperate with the front edge of the door, and means independent of the raising means for locking said hook in operative position.

3. In a device of the kind described, and in combination, a door pivotally supported at one side thereof, means for raising and supporting the free edge of the door, comprising a hook pivotally supported adjacent said free edge, a Winding shaft, an arm secured thereto, a link pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, a second link pivotally secured to said first mentioned link at the free end thereof, a chain connected to said hook and the free end of said second link, and arranged to coperate with the front edge of the door, a lock for said hook, and means for controlling said lock.

4. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a door pivotally supported at one side thereof, means for raising and supporting the front edge of the door, comprising a hook pivotally supported adjacent said free edge of the door, a Winding shaft, an arm secured thereto, a bent link pivotally secured to the free end of said arm, a second bent link pivotally secured to said first mentioned link at the free end thereof, a chain connected to said hook and the free end of said second link, and arranged to cooperate with the front edge of the door, and means for locking said hook in position, comprising a bell-crank lever, pivotally supported on an aXis transverse to the pivotal aXis of the hook, and provided at the end of one of its arms with substantially a Wedge, and a bar pivotally secured to the end of the other arm.

5. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame, a door pivotally secured at one side to said frame, a plurality of hooks arranged adjacent the free edge of the door, and carried by the frame, a winding shaft and means for operatively connecting lsaid hooks to said Winding shaft, comprising a chain secured to each hook and extending under the door past the free edge thereof, a link pivotally secured to each chain, another link having one end pivotally secured thereto and having its opposite end forked, andan arm for each fork pivotally secured thereto and non-rotatably secured to the Winding shaft.

6. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame, a door pivotally secured at one side to said frame,

a plurality of hooks arranged adjacent the free edge of the door, and carried by the frame, a winding shaft and means for operatively connecting said hooks to said Winding shaft, comprising a chain secured to each hook and extending under thedoor past the free edge thereof, a link pivotally secured to each chain, another link pivotally secured thereto having its opposite end forked, and an arm f'or each fork pivotally secured thereto and non-rotatably secured to the Winding shaft, and means for locking said hooks in operative position.

7. In a device of the kind described and in combination, a suitable frame, a dump door pivotally secured at one side to said frame, a plurality of hooks arranged adjacent the free edge of the door, and carried bythe frame, a Winding shaft and means for operatively connecting said hooks to said Winding shaft, comprising a chain secured to each hook and extending under the door past the free edge thereof, a link pivotally secured to each chain, another link pivotally secured thereto having its opposite end forked, and an arm for each fork pivotally secured thereto and non-rotatably secured to the Winding shaft, and means for locking said hooks in operative position, comprising a Wedge-shaped member for each hook, and means for forcing the said part into operative relation With the hook, or withdrawing the same, as desired.

8. In a car construct-ion and in combination, a car having a suitable frame comprising side, center and cross beams, a plurality of dump doors arranged on each side of said center beam and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door pivotally secured to the side beam at the free edge of the door, a Winding shaft arranged on each side of said center beam and rotatably carried by thecar frame, a chain for each of said hooks and secured thereto, a pair of links pivotally secured together at adjacent ends, the opposite end of one of said links secured to its respective chain, a suitably formed arm for each chain secured on said shaft, and pivotally connected to the free end of the other link.

9. In a car construction and in combination, a car having a suitable frame comprising side, center and cross beams, a plurality of dump doors arranged onA each side of said center beam and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door pivotally secured to the side beam at the free edge of the door, a Winding shaft arranged on each side of said center beam and rotatably carried by the car frame, a chain for each of said hooks and secured thereto, a pair of suitably bent links pivotally7 secured together at adjacent ends, the opposite end of one of said links secured to its respective chain, a suitably formed arm for each chain secured on said shaft, and pivotally connected to the free end of the other link.

l0. ln a car construction and in combination, a. car body having a 'suitable frame comprising side, center and cross beams, a plurality of dump doors arranged on each side of said center beam and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door pivotally secured to the side beam at the free edge of the door, a Winding shaft arranged on each side of said center beam and rotatably carried by the frame cross beams, a chain for each of said hooks secured thereto, a pair of links pivotally secured together at adjacent ends, the free end of one of said links secured to its respective chain, an arm for each chain secured on said shaft, and pivotally connected to the free end of the other link, and independently controlled means for locking said hooks in an operative engaging position.

ll. ln a car construction and in combination, a car body having` a suitable frame, comprising side, center and cross beams, a plurality of dump doors arranged on each side of said center beam, and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door pivotally secured to the side beam at the free edge of the door, a Winding shaft arranged on each side of said center beam and rotatably carried bythe body frame, a chain for each of said hooks secured thereto, a pair of links pivotally secured together at adjacent ends, the .free end of one of said links secured to its respective chain, an arm for each chain secured on said shaft, and pivotally connected to the free end of the other link, means for locking said hooks in operative engaging position, comprising a `Wedge-shaped member, and means for controlling the operation thereof.

12. In a car construction and in combination, a car body having a suitable frame, comprising side, center and-cross beams, a series of dump doors arranged on each side of said center beam and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door, means for pivotally securing said hooks to the side beam at the free edges of the doors, including a plate provided with anopening therethrough and a bracket arranged on opposite sides of said opening, and a hook extending through said opening and pivotally carried by said brackets, a Winding shaft for each series of doors, means for rotatably carrying said Winding shafts, and means rfor simultaneously raising said doors and moving said hooks into engagement therewith, comprising means for operatively connecting each hook with its respective Winding shaft, consisting` of a chain secured thereto and extended under the door, a pair of links pivotally secured together, one of said links having its free end pivotally secured to said chain, an arm. secured to said Winding shaft, and having the free end of the other links secured to the free end thereof.

13. In a car construction and in combination, a car body having a suitable frame, comprising side, center and cross beams, a series of dump doors arranged on each side of said center beam and hinged thereto, a plurality of hooks for each door, means for pivotally securing said hooks to the side beams at the free edges of the doors, including a plate for each hook provided With an opening therethrough, and a bracket arranged on opposite sides of said opening, said. hooks extending through said openings and pivotally carried by said brackets, a Winding sha-ft for each series of doors, means for rotatably carrying said Winding shafts, and means for simultaneously raising said doors comprising means for operatively connecting each hook with its respective Winding shaft, consisting of a chain secured thereto and extended under the door, a pair of links pivotally secured together, one of said links having its free end pivotally secured to said chain, an arm secured to said Winding shaft, having the free end of the other link secured to the free end thereof, and means for locking said hooks in operative engaging position, comprising a bellitzs crank lever for each hook pivotally secured to the-plate carrying the hook, andhaving one end extended through the opening through the plate, between the hook and edge of the opening, and provided with a wedge at the end thereof, and means for operating all of said bell-cranks simultaneously.

lef. In a car construction and in combination, a car body having a suitable frame, a plurality of dump doors hinged to said frame, means for engaging the free edges of the doors when closed, and maintaining the same in closed position, means cooperating therewith for raising the doors, and means for positively locking said door engaging means in operative engagement with the doors, comprising a bell-crank for each hook, and means for controlling said bellcranks.

15. Door controlling mechanism for dump doors, comprising the combination of a rotatable winding shaft, a hook member pivotally supported on an axis parallel with the shaft, and means connecting the shaft and hook, comprising an arm secured to the shaft, a pair of pivotally connected links arranged with the end of one pivotally secured to the arm, and the end of the other secured to the chains, said links being suitably bent in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

16. Door controlling mechanism for dump doors, comprising the combination of a rotatable winding shaft, a lock member pivotally supported on an axis parallel with the shaft, and means connecting the shaft and hook, comprising an arm secured to the shaft, a pair of pivotally connected links arranged with the end of one pivotally secured to the arm and the end of the other secured to the chains, said links being suitably bent in a direction transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, whereby when the shaft is rotated the links may be moved around the same, with the pivotal connections substantially in a common plane with the axis of the shaft, and means for locking the hooks in operative position.

17. In a construction of the kind described and in combination, a suitable car frame, a

dump door, door controlling mechanism 'i comprising a plurality of links pivotally connected together, a iiexible member secured thereto, and connected with the car frame, a winding shaft and means for operatively connecting one of said links to said shaft, said links being transversely oEset between the ends a combined distance equal to the thickness of the shaft, whereby when the shaft is rotated, the links will be wrapped about the shaft with the flexible member and shaft axis in the same straight line.

18. In a door operating mechanism for dump cars, the combination of a rotatable shaft, a flexible member having one end arranged for attachment to a fixed support, a link member pivotally connected with the opposite end of said chain, another link having one of its ends pivotally connected to the free end of the first mentioned link, and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the shaft, whereby when the shaft is .rotated the links will be wrapped about the shaft, and the shaft serves as a fulcrum when the links are brought into contact therewith.

19. In a door controlling mechanism for dump cars and in combination, a suitably supported hook arranged 'adjacent the free edge of the door, means for controlling and maintaining said hook in operative engagement with the free edge of the door, comprising a shaft, an arm secured thereto, a link having one end pivotally connected to said arm and extending on one side of the shaft andfulcrumed thereon, a second link pivotally connected with the free end of said first mentioned link and extending on the other side of said shaft and fulcrumed thereon, with its other end in proximity to the point of pivotal connection of the first link to said arm, and a chain connected with said last mentioned end of said second link and connected at its opposite end to said hook.

20. In a door controlling mechanism for dump cars and in combination, a suitably supported hook arranged adjacent the free edge of the door, means for controlling and maintaining said hook in operative engagement with the free edge of the door comprising a shaft, an arm secured thereto, a link having one end pivotally connected to said arm and extending on the under side of the shaft and fulcrumed thereon, a second link pivotally connected with the free end of said rst mentioned link and extending on the upper side of said shaft and fulcrumed thereon, with its other end in proximity to the point of pivotal connection of the first link to said arm, and a chain connected with said last mentioned end of said second link-and connected at its opposite end to said hook, and means for'locking the hook in operative position.

21. In a door controlling mechanism for dump cars, the combination of a suitably y supported door engaging member, means for drawing and maintaining said member in operative engagement with the free edge of the door, comprising a chain secured thereto, a pair of suitably formed links pivotally connected together, and having the end of one connected to the chain, an arm secured at the free end of the other link, a shaft, said arm secured thereto, said links arranged to be wrapped about the shaft with one link on one side and the other on the other side thereof with their points of connection with the arm and chain, the chain and the axis of the shaft inalinement.

22. In a ear construction and in combination, a ear body, including a suitable frame, a dump car carried by said frame, controlling mechanism for said door, including means for engaging the free edge of the door When closed, and maintaining the same in closed position, and means for positively locking said door engaging means in operative engaging position, comprising a Wedgeshaped member' for said door-engaging Copie of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Coinninioner et lamb,

means, said member pvotally carried by seribing Witnesses.

JOHN PEARSON. Witnesses:

ROY W. HlLL, CHARLES I. COBB.

Washington, D. C. 

